Flitney saves the day as Eastleigh claim precious point

Although neither of the top two emerged victorious, the point picked up in a 1-1 draw at Eastbourne Borough could prove decisive for the Spitfires come the end of the season.

Having fallen behind to a 41st-minute goal by former Havant defender Ian Simpemba at Priory Lane, Eastleigh hit back through Stuart Fleetwood 15 minutes from time.

And there was high drama in stoppage time when Spitfires keeper Ross Flitney saved a penalty from former Eastleigh loanee Frankie Raymond.

Referee Stuart Butler pointed the spot after Eastbourne’s Elvis Hammond had gone tumbling under a challenge from Jamie Collins.

Flitney was booked for taking issue with Raymond placing the ball on the spot, but he had the last laugh, diving to his left to parry the ball away.

At one stage it looked as if the Spitfires would lose ground on Bromley who, having fallen behind to a 20th-minute Jamie Slabber goal at home to Sutton, hit back to lead 2-1 through a Pierre Joseph-Dubois brace.

But there was a triple sting in the tail for the Kent table-toppers as Paul Doswell’s Us roared back with three goals in the last 11 minutes through Dean Sinclair (2) and Craig Dundas to win 4-2.

It leaves Richard Hill’s Spitfires five points behind Bromley with two games in hand and a trip to Hayes Lane still to come.